All network and computer services around UAB currently accept or require a BlazerID for login. The goal is to ultimately have your BlazerID serve as the sole identifier that allows you to securely access all of UAB's online information services and portals.

How do I clean my mailbox to save space? Or, do I need to ask for more mailbox space?

Since the Central Exchange accounts have a certain email quota for Students and Faculty/Staff, here are the best steps to help save space in your mailbox.

Remember: all of the folders in your mailbox, other than Personal folder files (PST) or Personal Archives, count on your overall space in your mailbox.

Delete your Deleted Items. You can right-click the folder and click “Empty Deleted Items” or open the folder and shift+delete your email to permanently delete the email.

Delete the Sent Items in your mailbox. You’re sent items like your Deleted items can house a good bit of emails that can be deleted.

Use Mailbox Cleanup. This is built into Outlook 2010 only. You can access this by doing the following:

Select File inside your Outlook.

Select Cleanup Tools. You can view the mailbox space before selecting the Cleanup Tools button.

You can choose:

Empty Deleted Items.

Mailbox Cleanup. Mailbox Cleanup allows you to use advanced tools to cleanup large emails and older items by the options you previously set. It also allows you to delete items that are in conflict with others.

Archive. Archive your items to a personal folder file (*.PST).

To help you determine how much space you have and how to increase your space, you can go to http://www.uab.edu/itbilling and request more space for your mailbox.

WindowsPlease note: Microsoft Forefront went end-of-life in July 2015.

For home use on Windows 7 and Vista, UAB IT recommends Microsoft Security Essentials be installed on your Windows system. If your computer is running Windows 7, Windows Defender only removes Spyware. To get rid of viruses and other malware, including spyware, on Windows 7, Windows and Vista, you should download Microsoft Security Essentials for free.

For home use on Windows 8, Windows Defender replaces Microsoft Security Essentials. You cannot use Microsft Security Essentials with Windows 8 or Windows RT, but you don't need to because Windows Defender already provides built-in protection. Learn more about using Windows Defender on Windows 8.

Macs

For Mac/OS X use Sophos Anti-virus. Please click here and login to select Sophos from the available titles. NOTE: Sophos has released a new version which is compatible with Mac OSX El Capitan. It is available at the UAB software download site.

UAB IT is currently blocking certain peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing protocols. P2P protocols are cited in copyright infringement cases brought against students and employees at a number of educational institutions by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and other media companies.

Recent trends across the country also show an increasing number of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaints for distributing copyrighted works over peer-to-peer protocols. Students and Employees should be aware that copyright infringement is not only against UAB policy, but also federal law.

UAB IT uses an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) device to monitor network activity for malicious or unwanted behavior. The IPS also allows for real time blocking of selective P2P protocols which will reduce our risk of receiving DMCA complaints and promote compliance with the UAB Acceptable Use Policy regarding copyright violations.

UAB IT does not block protocols currently being used for legitimate purposes. Streaming content such as YouTube should not be affected by the change. There are several options available to users who wish to participate in legal downloading of media, such as Rhapsody, Spotify, ITunes music store and Amazon mp3.

Users encountering connectivity issues as a result of these changes may contact AskIT for assistance at 205-996-5555.

Please Note: There is a known incompatibility with Sophos and FileVault on Mac OS X 10.5.x. If you are using FileVault please do not install Sophos Antivirus at this time.

Prior to enabling FileVault the following considerations should be observed:

Backup:Although FileVault has a very low failure rate; it is recommended that users create a backup of documents and files prior to enabling FileVault. This backup will provide a means of recovery in the event that anything should happen.

Time Machine:Under normal operation Time Machine will backup information in the user's Home folder while the user is logged in. Once FileVault is enabled however, Time Machine will back up a user's Home folder only after the user logs out and recovery of individual files becomes difficult. It is for this reason that Time Machine's backup potential is reduced and is not recommended for use with FileVault. If an alternate backup solution is required, iBackup provides a freeware solution that allows on-demand and scheduled backup and recovery of individual files while you are logged in. http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/ibackup.html

Free Space:When FileVault is enabled the user's Home folder is copied (not moved) to a protected space and the original is not deleted until the end of the process. This means that prior to enabling FileVault, the free space on the hard drive should be equal to or greater than the size of the Home folder. This free space requirement is also necessary in the event that FileVault is disabled. If you do not have this amount of free space available, then it may be necessary to offload some of the files in your home directory to an external device before beginning the process and then migrate the files over to the protected Home file once the process is complete.

Enabling FileVault

Open your System Preferences panel and click Security (circled in red below).

On the General tab, select the items below to ensure maximum security.

On this screen you will set a Master Password that can unlock FileVault protected accounts. This is a feature that is designed to provide recovery for accounts. Set this password as something you won't forget, but ensure that it is different from your user account password. Do not lose or forget this password; this password cannot be recovered or reset once it is set.

You will now be prompted for the password affiliated with your current user account.

After your password is accepted you will be prompted to confirm that you want to turn on FileVault. On this screen, be sure to check the option to "Use secure erase". Once you click "Turn On FileVault" the computer will not be accessible for 1-2 hours depending on hardware.